I am struck in silent awe as another birthday (and remission anniversary) arrives.Sometimes I wonder, did this really happen? Is this really my life?I’m humbled by the reality, that yes, my memories are real and true. Most people don’t get that chance I've had – to heal from a terminal disease. I’m often reminded of that.In my desire to honor those who don’t get the healing I did, and in trying to find answers to the “meaning of life” questions, I’ve sought my life’s purpose. I’ve found that I can be a source of information for others on their own pathway to healing, and I’ve become passionate about helping people get access to the health information they need. But at the same time, my experiences have taught me so much more than how our bodies heal, and I want to share all the relevant things I’ve learned, like the fact that truly, no situation is hopeless! And that a life of passion, adventure and joy is possible with the right attitude, despite all of life’s challenges! (The lesser/irrelevant lessons I’ve learned are things like it’s not always shorts-and-a-T-shirt weather in Mexico; weekly pill boxes are great for storing multiple vitamins in one place; and they generally believe you when you say “No sir, I have nothing to declare before I go back across the US/Mexico border...”)Through gratitude for the incredible gift I’ve been given and the desire to fulfill my unique purpose, my heart has been set on fire! And I want to help you experience this same passion for life as you live out your own unique purpose!Often times our enthusiasm is subdued when we experience challenges and forget how blessed we are to be alive, and then sadly we begin treating life as an obligation instead of a gift. But I’m here to tell you that despite experiencing what may feel like an uphill battle, your life is a gift, and your efforts have meaning and purpose. That even if you can’t tell now, some how, some way, your painful experiences can work for your good. And even if your efforts feel burdensome, “passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into extraordinary.” – Mark Sanborn If you find that hard to believe, or if you’re struggling with some tough challenges in living out your life’s purpose, know that I do too sometimes. I frequently have feelings of disappointment, discouragement or defeat that I don’t always share with others. Sometimes I don’t bounce back from those down moments as quickly as I should, but I strive not to waste my time believing the lies we all face about not being good enough, qualified enough, smart enough, talented enough, or strong enough to reach our goals. Time is precious, so I push on and continue to trust that I’m on the right path because I’m following my heart.Thankfully I have a wonderful support system of people who continue to believe in me and encourage me not to give up when the going gets tough. But I’ve needed more than just a support network of encouragers to get me through the last 4+ years of my healing journey. I’ve needed big faith.My biggest leap of faith up to this point was when I began pursuing alternative cancer treatments outside the U.S. Since then, a little bit at a time, my faith has continued to grow as I’ve taken steps into the unknown and found that life’s way more fun, adventurous, and fulfilling when lived in faith than in fear. It’s helped me tremendously through some health scares. And ultimately, it’s led me to pursuing this speaking career, despite how crazy and terrifying the idea sounded to me at first. I NEVER ever ever would’ve predicted that this is what I’d be doing with my life. Quite honestly when I was younger I thought I’d be working with animals or doing some other job that allowed me to avoid human interaction as much as possible. Haha. I’ve come a long way, my friends! ;D Because now I really do love talking to people and encouraging them to overcome the obstacles that stand between them and their destiny.The last several years have been an incredible journey of learning and growing closer to becoming the kind of person I want to be. Because of what my life looked like before my incredible healing – full of doubt and fear and lacking passion – and what my life looks like now, I’m so glad things have happened exactly the way that they have. What I thought was the worst thing in my life actually turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me, and the same could be true for you.The journey has been more fulfilling than I ever imagined it could be. Through it all, what excites me most and keeps me going every day is the chance to pass on a gift to others that’s free but comes from the heart – hope.So, friend, what challenges are you facing, and how do they relate to you living out your life’s purpose? Do you want to respond in fear or in faith?“With God, all things are possible.”
